CN115520749A

CN115520749A - Elevator governor tensioning frame damper

Info

Publication number: CN115520749A
Application number: CN202111375286.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: R·L·霍洛韦尔
Original assignee: Otis Elevator Co
Current assignee: Otis Elevator Co
Priority date: 2021-06-25
Filing date: 2021-11-19
Publication date: 2022-12-27
Also published as: US11738971B2; EP4108618A1; US20220411228A1

Abstract

An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator governor includes a rotatable governor mechanism, a tensioning sheave, and a tensioning frame associated with the tensioning sheave. The tensioning frame has a mass configured to bias the tensioning frame and the tensioning sheave under the influence of gravity. The damper is configured to resist vertical movement of the tensioning frame relative to the fixed surface under a first condition and to permit vertical movement of the tensioning frame relative to the fixed surface under a second, different condition.

Description

Elevator governor tensioning frame damper

Background

Elevator systems include a variety of control features to maintain desired movement of the elevator car. A governor is typically included for monitoring the speed of the car. The governor provides feedback information about the speed of the car. Another function of the governor is to activate a safety braking system to stop the car in the event of an overspeed condition.

A typical governor arrangement includes a rotary governor mechanism near the top of the hoistway. A governor rope is wound around the rotary governor mechanism and extends down to a governor tensioning sheave. A weight associated with the tensioning sheave maintains tension on the governor rope.

The governor rope moves as the elevator car moves and the speed of rotation of the governor mechanism corresponds to the speed of car movement. In high-rise buildings, the governor may have a low frequency response when the elevator car completes traveling at certain floors (such as the lower floors in the building). In the case where the governor low frequency response coincides with the frequency response of the elevator car (which may be due to the extended length of the ropes suspending the elevator car), any position feedback information provided by the governor may be inaccurate.

Disclosure of Invention

Additionally or alternatively to one or more of the above features, the first condition includes a first speed of movement of the tensioning frame being above a threshold speed or a first frequency of movement of the tensioning frame being above a threshold frequency, and the second condition includes a second speed of movement of the tensioning frame being below the threshold speed or a second frequency of movement of the tensioning frame being below the threshold frequency.

In addition or as an alternative to one or more of the above features, the damper has a damping force that resists vertical movement of the tensioning frame, and the damping force varies with changes in the speed of vertical movement of the tensioning frame.

In addition or alternatively to one or more of the above features, the first condition includes a time within a selected range during movement of the associated elevator car or after movement of the associated elevator car is completed, and the second condition includes a time while the associated elevator car is stationary and outside the selected range.

In addition or alternatively to one or more of the features described above, the damper includes a base and a mounting frame, the mounting frame configured to be secured to a fixed surface, the mounting frame configured to resist vertical movement of the base, and the mounting frame configured to allow at least some lateral movement of the base relative to the mounting frame.

In addition or alternatively to one or more of the features described above, wherein the mounting frame is configured to be secured to at least one of a floor surface and a wall surface in the hoistway.

In addition or alternatively to one or more of the features described above, the damper includes a coupler configured to secure at least a portion of the damper to the tensioning frame, and the coupler allows at least some lateral movement of the tensioning frame relative to the damper.

In addition or as an alternative to one or more of the above features, an elevator system comprises: the elevator governor of any of the preceding paragraphs; an elevator car; and a governor rope coupled with the elevator car, the governor rope at least partially wrapped around the governor mechanism and the tensioning sheave, wherein movement of the elevator car causes movement of the governor rope and rotational movement of the governor mechanism.

In addition or alternatively to one or more of the features described above, the elevator system of the preceding paragraph includes a device that determines elevator car movement, and wherein the governor provides an additional indication of elevator car movement.

Various features and advantages of at least one disclosed example embodiment will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows.

Drawings

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates selected portions of an example embodiment of an elevator system including a governor tensioning frame damper.

Figure 2 schematically illustrates selected portions of an example damper configuration.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates selected portions of another example damper configuration.

Detailed Description

Figure 1 schematically illustrates selected portions of an elevator system 20. The elevator car 22 is coupled to the counterweight 24 by a plurality of tension members 26 that suspend the elevator car 22 and the counterweight 24. In some embodiments, the tension members 26 are round steel cords. Other embodiments include ropes made of different materials. Still other embodiments include a belt as the tension member 26. The traction sheave 28 of the elevator machine rotates to cause movement of the tension members 26, which results in desired movement of the elevator car 22.

The governor 30 includes a governor mechanism 32 and a tensioning sheave 34. The tension frame 36 is coupled with the tension sheave 34. The tension frame 36 has a mass that biases the tension sheave 34 and the tension frame 36 under the influence of gravity. The governor rope 38 is coupled to the elevator car 22 and is arranged in a loop that wraps partially around the governor mechanism 32 near the top of the loop and the tension sheave 34 near the bottom of the loop.

As the elevator car 22 moves vertically, the governor rope 38 moves and the governor mechanism 32 rotates in response. If an overspeed condition exists, governor mechanism 32 is operable to engage a safety brake (not shown) in a well-known manner.

In high-rise buildings, the length of the tension members 26 tends to allow some resonance of the elevator system 20 that can result in sway of the elevator car 22 when reaching the destination floor schematically represented by the dashed line 22'. Building sway can also facilitate such sway. This oscillation may result in a corresponding movement of the tensioning sheave 34 and the tensioning frame 36. The example governor 30 includes a damper 40 configured to resist vertical movement of the tension frame 36 relative to a stationary surface 42, such as a floor or wall of a hoistway or pit. The damper 40 is configured to resist vertical movement of the tension frame 36 and associated tension sheave 34 under a first condition and to allow vertical movement of the tension frame 36 and tension sheave 34 under a second, different condition.

An example first condition includes sway of the elevator car 22, such as at a resonant frequency of the tension members 26. It is undesirable for the tension frame 36 to swing vertically in response to the swinging of the elevator car 22. The damper 40 is configured to resist vertical movement of the tensioning frame 36 under such first conditions.

However, it is desirable to allow the tension frame 36 to move slowly downward over time, for example, as the governor rope 38 stretches. An example second condition in which the damper 40 allows such vertical movement of the tension frame 36 includes the elevator car 22 remaining stationary.

The damper 40 in the exemplary embodiment is configured to provide or apply a damping force that resists vertical movement of the tensioning frame 36 relative to the stationary surface 42. The damping force varies with varying speed of vertical movement of the tension frame 36. In some embodiments, the damping force is proportional to the speed at which the tensioning frame 36 tends to move vertically. There are known hydraulic dampers that have such varying and responsive damping forces, and some embodiments include such known dampers. This varying or responsive damping force allows the tensioning frame 36 to move slowly downward over time, but resists rapid vertical movement of the tensioning frame 36 during or immediately after the elevator car 22 travels to the destination landing.

The first and second conditions may be defined differently in different embodiments. For example, the first and second conditions are defined based on the speed or frequency of movement of the tensioning frame 36. In some such embodiments, the first condition includes a first speed of movement of the tensioning frame 36 or a first frequency of movement of the tensioning frame 36 being above a threshold. The second condition in such embodiments includes a second speed or frequency of movement of the tensioning frame 36 being below a threshold.

In some embodiments, the first condition is defined based on a time within a selected range during movement of the elevator car 22 or after movement of the elevator car 22 to the destination landing is completed. Some time within the selected range including after the elevator car 22 arrives at the destination takes into account oscillations that may occur after such arrival. The second condition is defined based on the time when the associated elevator car is stationary. The second condition does not include times within a selected range of times included in the first condition.

One aspect of resisting vertical movement of the tension frame 36 is maintaining the accuracy or reliability of the information provided by the governor mechanism 32 to the device 43, which device 43 monitors or determines the position or movement of the elevator car. The device may be part of a machine or drive used to control movement of the elevator car 22, for example. This movement of the tension frame 36 tends to be at a lower frequency than the frequency of the elevator car 22 when the elevator car 22 is swinging and the tension frame 36 experiences a corresponding swing. This difference tends to introduce inconsistencies or errors into the position or movement information provided to device 43 by governor mechanism 32. The use of the damper 40 to resist vertical movement of the tensioning frame 36 reduces or eliminates such inconsistencies or errors.

The damper 40 is also configured to allow some lateral or side-to-side movement of the tension frame 36. Fig. 2 schematically illustrates an example arrangement including a mounting frame 44, mounting frame 44 being configured to be secured to a surface 42, such as a floor of a hoistway or pit. Mounting frame 44 includes a recess or cavity 46 that receives a portion of a base 48 of damper 40. The relative dimensions of the recesses or cavities 46 and the receiving portions of the base 48 allow for some lateral movement of the damper 40 while retaining the damper 40 in a manner that facilitates the damper 40 selectively resisting vertical movement of the tension frame 36.

Another configuration is shown in fig. 3. In the exemplary embodiment, damper 40 includes a coupler 50 that secures damper 40 to tensioning frame 36. The coupler 50 includes a bushing 52, the bushing 52 allowing relative lateral sliding between a bracket or rod 54 secured to the tension frame 36 and the damper 40.

The disclosed example embodiments provide damping to resist undesired vertical movement of the governor tensioning frame 36 and tensioning sheave 34, which avoids undesired movement of the governor mechanism 32. Reducing or eliminating such undesired movement provides more reliable or accurate position or movement information from governor 30 that can be used to monitor and control elevator car movement.

The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this invention. The scope of legal protection given to this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.

Claims

1. An elevator governor, comprising:

a rotatable governor mechanism;

tensioning the rope pulley;

a tensioning frame associated with the tensioning sheave, the tensioning frame having a mass configured to bias the tensioning frame and the tensioning sheave under the influence of gravity; and

a damper configured to resist vertical movement of the tensioning frame relative to a fixed surface under a first condition, the damper configured to permit vertical movement of the tensioning frame relative to the fixed surface under a second, different condition.

2. The elevator governor of claim 1, wherein

The first condition includes a first velocity of movement of the tensioning frame being above a threshold velocity or a first frequency of movement of the tensioning frame being above a threshold frequency, and

the second condition includes a second speed of movement of the tensioning frame being below the threshold speed or a second frequency of movement of the tensioning frame being below the threshold frequency.

3. The elevator governor of claim 1, wherein

The damper has a damping force against the vertical movement of the tension frame, and

the damping force varies with changes in the speed of vertical movement of the tensioning frame.

4. The elevator governor of claim 1, wherein

The first condition comprises a time during movement of the associated elevator car or within a selected range after completion of movement of the associated elevator car, and

the second condition includes a time when the associated elevator car is stationary and outside of the selected range.

5. The elevator governor of claim 1, wherein

The damper includes a base portion and a mounting frame,

the mounting frame is configured to be secured to the fixed surface,

the mounting frame is configured to resist vertical movement of the base, and

the mounting frame is configured to allow at least some lateral movement of the base relative to the mounting frame.

6. The elevator governor of claim 5, wherein the mounting frame is configured to be secured to at least one of a floor surface and a wall surface in a hoistway.

7. The elevator governor of claim 1, wherein

The damper includes a coupler configured to secure at least a portion of the damper to the tension frame, and

the coupler allows at least some lateral movement of the tensioning frame relative to the damper.

8. An elevator system comprises

The elevator governor of claim 1,

an elevator car; and

a governor rope coupled with the elevator car, the governor rope at least partially wrapped around the governor mechanism and the tensioning sheave, wherein movement of the elevator car causes movement of the governor rope and rotational movement of the governor mechanism.

9. The elevator system of claim 8, comprising a device that determines elevator car movement, and wherein the governor provides an additional indication of the elevator car movement.